Violin-tailpiece.



N. C. HALE. VIOLIN TAILPIECB. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1s, 190e.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909. 4

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UNlrliED STATS PATENT QFFlQE.

VIGLIN-TAILPIECE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (let. 12, 1909.

Application filed June 18, 1908. 'Serial No. 439,183.

To all whom it may concern:

le it known that l, Nour C. HALE, citizen of the United States, residingat Boat right, in the county of Calloway and State ot' Kentucky, haveinvented certain new and useful ln'iprovements in Violir1-'l`ailpieces,of which the following is a speciiication.

The present invention in its specific application is designed forviolins and like stringed musical instruments, but obviously may beadapted to musical instruments of any kind employing strings as thesound lproducing means.

The invention enables the unskilled to tune an instrument to any desiredpitch, the latter being determined by a scale, each string having atension device and a scale in cooperative relation therewith todetermine the tension corresponding to the required tone.

The invention is particularly adapted to instruments of the violin type,having a tail-piece to which the strings are attached and is illustratedin this adaptation in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view ot' a violin provided with a tail-pieceembodying the invention. FiO'. 2 is a top plan view of the tail-piece.Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of a tube or barrel. Fig. 4 isa perspective view of a tube or barrel. Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofan end portion of a tension spring', showing the disk to which themusical string is attached and which disk is provided with the pointer.Fig. 6 is a detail view of a modiiication, showing means for securingthe disk or like part in the adjusted position. Fig. 7 is a transversesection on the line :U-x of Fig. 6.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawingsby the samereference characters.

The tail-piece 1 may be of any construction designed according to theparticular make and style of instrument for which intended. Thetailspiece is provided with a tensioning device and scale for eachstring. rlhe tensioning device may be fitted to the tail-piece in anyapproved manner so as not to be in the way and yet admit of attainingthe objects of the invention and permitting of access being readily hadto the parts for any purpose.

Each tensioning device consists of a tube or barrel 2 and spring 3located therein and l consistingl ot a spiral formed of wire of selectedgage best adapted for the purpose. A slot 4- is provided in a side ofthe tube or barrel for the pointer 5 to move in. A scale (3 is providedat one side of the slot et and cooperates with the pointer 5 to indicatethe tension of the spring 3 and the musical string 7 connected thereto.The pointer 5 in the tube or barrel 2 and having one end otl the spring3 securely attached thereto. The opposite end of the spring 3 is securedto the end of the tube or barrel in any manner. the barrel and closesthe same and the end oit the spring 3 is connected thereto. The disk orbar 8 has an aperture 1() through which the string 7 passes, said stringbeing knotted in the accustomedway to prevent its withdrawal through theopening` l() when subjected to tension. Normally the pointers 5 ot' t-heseveral tensioning devices stand at Zero and after the Astrings havebeen connected to the parts S and stretched by the tuning pins or keys,the springs 3 are subjected to tension, the degree of tension beingindicated by the pointer 5 and scale 6. The tension of the spring 3 issuch that when an A string is tightened to move the pointer to theletter A of the scale, said string is in proper tune. When an E stringis stretched so that the pointer '5 of the tensioning device is oppositethe letter E of the scale 6 it is known that said stringis in propertime. Each string is tightened until the scale of its tensioning deviceindicates the letter or mark determined upon. It will thus be understoodthat it is not necessary to try the several strings to harmonize thetones in tuning, the instrument being tuned when the several strings arestretched or tightened so that the tensioning device connected therewithindicates the points to which the tightening should be effected.

lt is to be understood that the invention may be applied to mandolins,guitars, banjos and like stringed musical instruments havingtail-pieces, or even to the strings of other musical instruments byadaptations and modilications which will readily adjust themselves tothe skilled artisan.

To prevent movement ot' the part 8 to which the musical string isattached after the string has been properly stretched or tightened,suitable means are employed to tix the position of the part 8. In Fig.6, a

is carried by a disk or like part 8 movable As shown, a cap 9 is fittedto an end of 'threaded stein l2 extends freni the part 8 und passesthrough the slot 4 Qt the tube or barrel 2 und receives zi plete 13 anda thumb nut M, the pitite 13 havin@ :i pointer to CO- opei'zite with theScale t5 und said plete being` nut llt.

The Zero-point o t' the spring 3 iiiziy be reguhited by ineens of iisereiv l5, is Shown iuost clearly in Fig. 67 said screw being thiiudet'tinto the Cap or end 1G Closing the tube Having thue1 described theinvention, ivhzit is ehiinied is new is:

1. in e device ne specified, the eoinbiiiiidetei'niiiiiiig the tensionof it String iiiid iiieune for securing Suid indiezito f rigidtiY iiiadjusted position.

in :i device us speeitied, the eoiiibiiiiitioii with :i tait-piece ofineens for deterniining the relative teiieioii oi strings extendedii'oii'i .Suid tail-piece und u ehiini eurried by said tension iiieunsfor securing the .strings in u, rigid position.

3. In :i device ne Speeitied, the eonibiiietion with i tail-piece oftubes;4 cui-rieti by sziid tait-piece, coil Springs uri-tinged in saidtubes, stringe extended from seid springs, :uid indicatore extendedtroni sind springs t t t I t t t t t t i i i through Suid tubesy teiiidieiite upon Seules on Suid tubee4 the tensionsl oi'i Siiid Stringa.

deviee zie specified eoinpi'isinf ii tiiil piece ii pturzitity of tubeshaving ioiigitudinel stets i'orined in the upper ohiiiiped against. thetube by the thumbl eide thei'eoi.E

disposed iii the forward end oi the tiiitpieee, Seidee termed on e idtubes iidjiieent,

the slots therein7 coil el'iriiifege` iongitudiiiuttv i iiioeitioiiediii seid tubes und eeeui'ed tit their retti' eXtreii/iities te sindtubes7 disks eurri'd iii sind tubes b v the 't'oiiviii'd extifeniitiesot' Suid springe, stringe4 secured to eiiid disks and extended therefromthrough Suid tubes,

e Jiioiiitei's ulnviirdtv extended 'trot i seid diste;- through theiongitudinid shite termed in the tion with ai tail-piece oit' unindicator 'fori upper Side` ot seid tubes, ,wid pointers :idzipted toeoiiet ith Enid .states 'formed upon eiiid tubes iter intftieiiting thett-iieiou ot' sfiid springs` tliuiub nut,y peeitioned upon Suidpointure, :ind pluie@ disposed upon Huid iitiintere` beneath ySuidthuiiib nut."r nud udujited t to be ehiingied iigziint Suid dimei'gidtivv in l adjueted position.

in testinioiii whereof 'l :ittif: niv si iii preeeiiee ot' 'tivoWitneefee.

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